York Primary School Achieves Bronze North Yorkshire Healthy Early Years Award
We are thrilled to announce North Yorkshire Council has awarded the Bronze North Yorkshire Healthy Early Years Award to Chapter House, a leading York primary school. This significant achievement recognises the exceptional provision within our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Queen's Kindergarten, specifically in the areas of Personal, Social & Emotional Development (PSED) and Emotional Health & Wellbeing.
As a forward-thinking York primary school, Chapter House continues to go above and beyond in providing a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging learning environment for young children.
Establishing Strong Foundations with York Families
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At Chapter House, we believe early connections are key to building a child's educational journey. That’s why we offer free Taster Days and Stay and Play sessions for families to experience life at our York primary school before officially enrolling. These sessions are thoughtfully designed to match children’s interests and help them feel comfortable in their new setting. Before children even begin Kindergarten, we work closely with parents to create personalised family photo books. These are kept in our book corner and help children feel connected to home, creating a seamless and comforting transition into school life. |
Prioritising Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Known for its child-centred approach, Chapter House embraces the Reggio Emilia philosophy—viewing the learning environment as a “third teacher”. Classrooms are calm, home-like spaces filled with natural resources, encouraging independence, curiosity, and confidence.
Children can flow freely between indoor and outdoor learning spaces, including our secret garden and on-site woods, where they explore nature under the guidance of our trained Forest School practitioner. This kind of experience not only enhances resilience and creativity but fosters vital social skills like teamwork, turn-taking, and decision-making.
Listening to Every Child’s Voice
At our York primary school, we practise in-the-moment planning, an approach that lets us tailor learning experiences to each child’s interests. Our rich continuous provision includes opportunities to engage with sculpture, clay, textiles, powder paint, and even light play. This empowers young learners to develop autonomy, self-expression, and confidence in a setting that values their individuality.
Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing is a central focus at Chapter House. Our dedicated Pastoral Team runs Whole School Awareness Weeks across the year, each centred on a key theme: digital wellbeing, anti-bullying, equality, spirituality, culture, and overall wellbeing.
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Each classroom is supported by our friendly mascot, Albie Owl, who helps facilitate conversations around these themes in a child-friendly way — both at school and at home.
Strengthening Parent Partnerships
As a trusted York primary school, we know that strong parent-school partnerships are essential for a child’s success. We host regular Information Evenings, Curriculum Talks, and specialist events such as an Early Communication Workshop and a Sleep Talk by the Tiny Sleep Sanctuary. These events give parents practical tools to support their child’s development at home.
Chapter House is proud to be shaping the future, one confident and curious learner at a time. Our Bronze Award is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the strength of our family partnerships, and the incredible potential of our young learners.
Whether you're looking to join a nurturing Kindergarten or an ambitious York primary school, we invite you to explore everything Chapter House has to offer. Join us at a Whole School Open Day, or register for one of our popular Stay and Play sessions to experience our vibrant community in action.
